Gate-latch.



Patented Jan. 22, l90l. A S JONES GATE LATCH.

UNITED States ALBERT SIDNEY JONES, OF BELMONT, TEXAS.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,425, dated January22, 1901.

Application tiled May 29, 1900. serial No. 18,426. \No modelo jt'o (tlZwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT SIDNEY J ONES, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Belmont, in the county of Gonzales and State ofTexas, have invented a new and useful Gate- Latch, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in gate-latches.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofgate-latches and to provide an automatic one adapted to lock the gatewhen the latter closes and capable of automaticallysetting itself inproper position for engaging and locking the gate should it be closedinstead of open or in position to receive the gate.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a gate-latchconstructed in accordance with this invention and shown in engagementwith a gate. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the latch, the same beingopen or in position to be engaged by the gate. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsectional view, the parts being arranged as shown in Fig. 1.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the draw ings.

1 designates a swinging latch consisting of an approximately oblong loopconstructed of any suitable material and having its inner side 2constituting a pintle and arranged in verticallyhlined eyes 3 of thelatch-post 4. The loop is adapted to lie against the face of thelatch-post, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, inwhich position the latch is open, and it is capable of swinging awayfrom the face of the latch-post to a position at right angles to thesame to engage a projection 5 of a gate 6, whereby the -gate is lockedagainst the latch-post. The inner side 2 of the rectangular latch isprovided with a projecting arm 7, extending from the loop toward thegate and arranged to be engaged by the projection 5 thereof to swing thelatch on its pivot or pintle, and when the gate is closed the arm 7 islocated between the latch-post and the end bar of the gate,

whereby the latch is prevented from accidentally opening. The outer side8 of the latch is provided with an arm 9, located at the center of theouter side, and the inner arm 7 is also located at the center of theinner side at a point between the upper and lower eyes 3. .The inner armis arranged in a recess 10 of the end bar 11 of the gate 6 when thelatch is closed, and the latch is adapted to be automatically opened andswung to the position illustrated in Fig. 2 by reason of the projection5 engaging the outer arm 9, which is arranged at an angle, as clearlyshown in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings. The projection 5preferably consists of an extension of the adjacent horizontal bar ofthe gate, and it is reinforced by a plate 12 to prevent it from beingworn away through continual contact with the arms of the latch.

The latch is operated by means of a vertical rock-shaft l3, journaled insuitable bearings 14 and 15 of the latch-post and provided at its lowerend with a bifurcated arm 16, which straddles the upper end of therectangular latch. The upper end of the rock-shaft is provided with ahandle 17, by means of which the latch may be readily operated. Therock-shaft also assists in preventing the latch from accidentallyswinging as it engages the loop at a point between the ends of the topand rests upon the same.

It will be seen that the latch is exceedingly simple and inexpensive inconstruction and that it is adapted to operate automatically in eitherits open or closed position. It will also be apparent that when thelatch is closed the gate will first engage the outer arm 9 to open thelatch and that it will then engage the inner arm to close the latch.

The loop which constitutes the latch and which forms the opening for theprojection of the gate may be constructed of wire or similar material,as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or the latch may cons st ofa casting or the like. When the latch is constructed of wire, the armsare preferably composed of closed loops or extensions of the sides andthe terminals may form one of'the arms, in which case they will bepreferably twisted.

What I claim is 1. A latch comprising a horizontally-swinging loopadapted to receive a projection of a gate and hinged at one side, and anarm extending from the hinged side of the loop and rigid therewith andarranged to be engaged by the gate to cause the loop to swing over theprojection, substantially as described.

2. A latch comprising a horizontally-swinging loop hinged at one side,and arms projecting from the opposite sides of the loop and rigidtherewith and adapted to be engaged by the gate to open and close thelatch, substantially as described.

3. A horizontally-swinging latch hinged at one side and provided with anopening, arms extending from opposite sides of the latch and rigidtherewith, and means for operating the latch by hand, substantially asdescribed.

4. A horizontally-swinging latch hinged at one side and provided with anopening adapted to receive a projection of a gate, and a verticalrock-shaft provided with an arm connected with one end of the latch,substantially as described.

5. A horizontally-swinging latch provided with an opening and. havingrigid arms at opposite sides thereof, said latch being hinged at oneside and adapted to engage a projection of the gate, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT SID NEY JONES.

Witnesses:

W. D. O. JONES, YANCEY HOLMES.

